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On 1/6/2003 10:52:55 AM N5804NW wrote:
ACARS hurts. Gate agent asks to relaese brakes for on-time departure. Many times we later learn ramp has another 20 minutes of loading or the fueler is still hooked up. ACARS serves a purpose but it also tells a false operational story to the number crunchers. To them the flight looks out on-time and staffing resourses on the ground gets thinner. Release brakes when you are "really" ready for pushback.
N5804NW
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Agreed - pilots do no favors to anyone by releasing brakes early -- I've seen it in my own station...we have everyone boarded, close the boarding door and wait another 10-20 minutes for the ramp to finish loading...in the mean time, captain releases brakes, flight shows departing on schedule and we continue to work understaffed (sometimes 6 people to work 3 flights in/out within an hour). The on-time departure only makes local management look good...otherwise they have to account for the delay on a daily basis with HDQ.
PILOTS : RELEASE BRAKES/Activate ACARS ONLY WHEN READY TO PUSH BACK!